Travel Tips
Spain
Gaudi's Barcelona, Moorish palaces and late-night tapas make Spain an endlessly fun country to explore.
What I love about Spain
People often ask me what I love most about a country. Every country has its good and bad sides, but here I share the positives I found on my travels.
Barcelona and its soccer, which is everywhere in the city.
- Capital
- Madrid
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Spanish, with regional languages
- Best overall
- April to June and September to October
- Emergency
- 112
- Electricity
- 230V, plug types C and F
This country is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, while others need a Schengen visa. Check the current rules for your passport, including the EES and ETIAS entry systems. Passport validity rules vary, so check the requirements before you book.
Read about visa on arrival, e-visas and online registration →
Still have specific visa questions?
Spring and autumn are ideal. Summers are very hot inland, while beaches and islands are popular until early autumn.
Not sure which month suits your trip?
Barcelona
Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, beaches and Gothic lanes.
Madrid
World-class art museums and a lively food scene.
Seville
Flamenco, orange trees and a great cathedral.
Granada
The Alhambra palace. Book tickets well ahead.
San Sebastian
A beautiful bay and famous pintxos bars.
Need help choosing where to go?
- Days 1 to 4 Barcelona
- Days 5 to 6 Madrid
- Days 7 to 8 Granada
- Days 9 to 11 Seville
Want a route planned around your dates?
- High-speed AVE trains connect main cities quickly. Book early.
- A car is useful in Andalusia's white villages.
Not sure how to get between places?
- Cards are widely accepted, and tipping is modest. Lunch and dinner run late.
- Buy an eSIM before you fly or a local SIM on arrival, so maps work from day one.
Questions about costs, cash or SIM cards?
- Paella, especially around Valencia.
- Tapas and jamon iberico.
- Churros with chocolate.
Want tips on what and where to eat?
- Watch for pickpockets in Barcelona, Madrid and on the metro.
- Book the Alhambra and Sagrada Familia early.
Planning a trip to Spain?
Book a one-on-one call and bring your questions about your route, costs and visa.
Information on this page may change, so please confirm the latest visa and entry requirements and your government travel advice on official websites before you travel.